Motivators and barriers for paediatricians discharging patients
Erin Turbitt A B , Marina Kunin A , Sarah Gafforini A and Gary L. Freed A CA Health Systems and Workforce Unit, The Centre for Health Policy, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
B Present address: National Human Genome Research Institute, Building 31, Room B1B54, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-2073, USA.
C Corresponding author. Email: gary.freed@unimelb.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 23(3) 284-287 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY16094
Submitted: 5 August 2016 Accepted: 7 October 2016 Published: 30 November 2016
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify motivators and barriers that paediatricians face when discharging patients from outpatient specialty care. A questionnaire was administered to outpatient care paediatricians in Victoria working in one of five speciality public hospital clinics. Questions focused on how important various motivators and barriers were in respondents’ decision to discharge a patient from their clinic. Nearly all (91%, n = 74) paediatricians invited to participate provided responses. The factor influencing the greatest proportion of paediatricians in their decision to discharge patients back to primary care was the potential that patients may not receive the required care from a GP. The next most highly rated barrier was that it is too complicated to arrange discharge; rated as a very important influence by one-third of paediatricians (33%, n = 24). Improvements to the discharge process may encourage more paediatricians to discharge patients back to their GP, therefore freeing up appointment slots. This in turn could reduce waiting times for paediatric outpatient clinics in Victoria. The concern from paediatricians that patients may not receive the required care from a GP warrants attention and should be further investigated.
Additional keywords: child health services, hospital outpatient clinics, patient discharge, referral and consultation.
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